ALCS Preview- LA Angels vs. NY Yankees

GAME ONE TONIGHT

YANKEE STADIUM- BRONX NY

LAA-JOHN LACKEY VS NYY CC SABATHIA

7:57 1st PITCH

FOX

     SO here we go. Sorry NL fans, but this is the big time, these are the big boys, this is what we all want to see. The 2 teams with the best records in the MLB. The teams who scored the most runs this season and the teams who both swept their way into the LCS. They split the season series 5-5. The Mighty Yankees who last year were with out the post season while their counterparts were bounced in the 1st round vs the team of Destiny the LA Angels, i say that because they have dedicated their season due to the loss of pitcher Nick Adenhart. Those damn Yankees who, last time were in the ALCS blew a 3-0 lead, leading to the biggest collapse in sports history. The bombers opened up a new Cathedral this past season, the last time they did that was in 1923 and they won the Fall classic then, so why not now.

ESPNs Tim Kurkjian

(who provided us with insight on the NLCS)

posted these key's to the ALCS series.

Here are five questions:

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Rodriguez

1. Is Alex Rodriguez on his way to a monster postseason?

It certainly looks that way. The look on his face when he drilled a two-out RBI single in Game 1 against the Twins was one of liberation, as if he was telling himself, "Yes, I can do this." Before there were only questions -- he had had only one RBI in his previous 16 postseason games -- and now, it appears, there is only redemption. The game-tying home run off Joe Nathan in the ninth inning, saving Game 2, was perhaps another epiphany for A-Rod: "Yes, I can also hit for power in the postseason." And then he did it again with a game-tying home run off Carl Pavano in the seventh inning of Game 3. Rodriguez hit five home runs in 24 at-bats against the Angels during the regular season. And more good news for the Yankees: It seems Teixeira has joined Rodriguez in this redemptive postseason. There were those around baseball who wondered if Teixeira was up for being his best at the most important time, and now we might have that answer. Teixeira's first home run in his postseason career also was the first walk-off HR of his career. It won Game 2, leaving the park in 2.88 seconds.

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Abreu

2. How dangerous is that Angels offense?

It is relentless. They are the only team in history with 11 players with 50-plus RBIs, they tied the record for most players (10) with 100 hits and tied for the most players (nine) with 60-plus runs scored. "This is the best offensive team that I've been a part of," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. Never was that more evident than in Game 2 of the LDS, when shortstop Erick Aybar -- a great defender, but, like everyone else in the lineup, a difficult out -- drilled a two-run triple off Josh Beckett to break the game open. Abreu deserves some credit for the Angels' offensive turnaround: They scored 118 more runs than they did in 2008. Abreu is one of the game's most patient hitters, and the effect seems clear -- the Angels were last in the league in pitches seen last year, but fifth in 2009. Against the Yankees in 10 games this year, the Angels scored 65 runs. First baseman Kendry Morales went 12-for-32 with three homers. Catcher Mike Napoli went 11-for-22. Look for the Angels to do what they have done to the Yankees several times in the postseason in this decade -- putting pressure on the Yankees defense by running, and taking the extra base, at all times. No team went from first to third on singles more often than the 2009 Angels.

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Molina

3. Will the Yankees catch Jose Molina in A.J. Burnett's starts?

They should, and this time, Jorge Posada should act more like the team guy he has always been. When Molina started in Game 2 of the LDS, Posada whined about it. He had a point; he had started 79 of the past 80 postseason games. No catcher in history had even come close to his starts behind the plate in the postseason. But this point is even stronger: Burnett pitches better with Molina back there in part because Molina is a much better defensive catcher than Posada (one major league manager said Posada has trouble handling pitches above his mask). Entering the postseason, Burnett's ERA with Posada catching was 4.96, which was the highest of any of the 10 catchers who had started at least 10 of Burnett's career starts, and was significantly higher than Molina's 3.28 with Burnett. So manager Joe Girardi chose the comfort of his pitcher over the feelings of his catcher. It has been done before. In 2000, Braves manager Bobby Cox started Greg Maddux's personal catcher, left-handed hitting Paul Bako, over Javy Lopez (24 home runs that year) against Cardinals left-hander Rick Ankiel in Game 1 of the LDS. Maddux gave up six runs in the first inning, but Ankiel was taken out in the second inning. Cox hit Lopez for Bako in the top of the second before he got an at-bat, but didn't pinch-hit for the next batter, Maddux, which had to be a first in major league postseason history, and likely a last.

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Lackey

4. How good is that Angels starting pitching?

It was as good as any in the American League for the last month and a half of the season, and then it was even better in the playoffs against the Red Sox. In Game 1, John Lackey combined with relievers on the first shutout in club history in 53 postseason games, and handed the Red Sox (no extra-base hits) their first shutout in their past 69 postseason games. In Game 2, Jered Weaver was almost as good, stifling the Red Sox lineup. After those two, they have three more options to start a game, with Scott Kazmir, Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana. The Angels will need four starting pitchers in the LCS, but they have five.

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Sabathia

5. How good is the Yankees starting pitching?

Like A-Rod, CC Sabathia got rid of a lot of his baggage with a solid performance in winning Game 1 against the Twins. His career postseason ERA had been above 7.00. Those around him will say, and correctly, that in the past two postseasons he was exhausted by the regular season. Not this year. He got normal rest in the final two months, so he shouldn't be tired this year. The bigger question is Andy Pettitte, who had mild shoulder issues down the stretch, and was hit hard by the Angels this year: 0-2, 7.88 ERA, 21 hits and eight walks in 16 innings. Then there is a question about the No. 4 spot in the Yankees rotation. Will Joba Chamberlain get the ball, or will his two relief appearances in the LDS convince the Yankees that, at least for this postseason, he is better off in the pen? But if Chamberlain doesn't start Game 4, will the Yankees start Chad Gaudin?

              If Friday ends in a rain out that hinders the Yankees. With a rain out that would not allow them to pitch CC Sabathia on 3 days rest like they would like due to the make up day being pitched on the day off. This can and will hurt them ONLY if Girardi makes the right call for game 4. The Series could come down to either Joba Chamberlain or Chad Gaudin, either could be selected for game 4 if their is an earlier rain out in the Boogy Down Bronx. Personally I would rather pitch Gaudin, but he would have a short leash with Mr. Chamberlain waiting in the wings.

Staff Writer Andrew Tilden- "the Yankees look like they have the roster to make a serious run at number 27..as long as the pitching staff delivers as promised" but he also exclaimed "They say momentum is only as good as tomorrows starting pitcher but after 3 game sweep of the red sox that ended in comeback fashion and the constant reminders of there fallen teammate nick adenheardt the angels might have what it takes to get past the Yankees"

Comparisons

Starting Pitchers NYY(Sabathia, Burnett ,Pettitte)

LAA(Lackey, Weaver, Kazmir)

EDGE- NYY (slightly)

1st Base-

NYY (Mark Texiera)

LAA( Kendry Morales)

EDGE- NYY

2nd Base-

NYY (Robinson Cano)

LAA (Macier Izturis)

EDGE-NYY

SS-

NYY (Derek Jeter)

LAA (Erick Aybar)

EDGE- NYY

3rd Base-

NYY(Alex Rodriguez)

LAA (Chone Figgins)

EDGE-NYY 

LF-

NYY (Johnny Damon)

LAA (Juan Rivera)

EDGE- LAA (slightly)

CF-

NYY (Melky Cabrera)

LAA ( Torii Hunter)

EDGE- LAA

RF-

NYY (Nick Swisher)

LAA ( Bobby Abreu)

EDGE- LAA

DH-

NYY ( Hideki Matsui)

LAA (Vladimir Guerrero)

EDGE- PUSH

BENCH-

NYY vs LAA

EDGE-LAA (Slightly)

BULL PEN

NYY vs LAA

EDGE- NYY 

CLOSER-

NYY Mariano Rivera

LAA- Brian Fuentes

EDGE- NYY

I want to add another piece. The Managers here are a tad different then what they are in the NLCS. Joe Girardi yes is a former manager of the year, but can he go toe to toe with Mike Scioscia. Personally I think he can. Scioscia has been said to be one of the best in the game and I agree. With a world series title under his belt and with this being Girardi's first post season he automatically has the experience advantage. But does he have the personel advantage? Personally I do not think so which leaves Girardi with an advantage because players can make a manager look good. But he isn't the better manager. With all things said i give the advantage... PUSH

The Umpire Crew

Tim McClelland, Dale Scott, Jerry Layne, Fieldin Culbreth, Laz Diaz, Bill Miller

The Picks

 ESPN.COM POLL @ 99,994 votes

NYY 61% LAA 39%

ESPN Analysts

Kurkjian- NYY in 7

Peter Gammons- NYY in 7

Buster Olney- NYY in 5

Jayson Stark- NYY in 7

Steve Philips- NYY in 7

Staff Picks

Ed Tierney- Yankees in 6
Matt Cole- Yankees in 6
Rob Luckett- Yankees in 6

Andrew Tilden- Yankees in 6 
Greg Stevens- Yankees in 6